STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3694

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2505

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2505, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND USE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the fines for violations of land use laws; and

(2) Impose enhanced fines for developers and owners of important agricultural lands who repeatedly use the lands for unintended purposes.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committees find that there may be individuals who abuse the important agricultural land designation system for its incentives. Your Committees believe that individuals who exploit their important agricultural lands designation for personal or financial gain should be subjected to enhanced penalties. This measure will allow the State to support a diversity of agricultural activities and opportunities that expand agricultural income and job opportunities and increase agricultural self-sufficiency in the State by deterring individuals from using their important agricultural lands for unintended purposes.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2505, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair